Croquetas De Jamón (Ham Croquettes)

Bring on the fried goodness! You can get all kinds of flavors of croquettes, but ham croquettesis the most traditional and delicious. These little bites of golden joy melt in your mouth with gooey cheese.

Arroz con Pollo (Chicken and Rice)

Even though it sounds simple, this is by far my favorite Cuban meal.Every Spanish-speakingcountry makes this staple dish in their own style.It’s not just rice; it’s saffron-infused, yellow rice with peas, carrots, and green beans.

And it’s not just chicken; there’s a medley of spicesand flavors going on there that I can’teven describe.

Lomo de Puerco (Cuban PorkLoin)

Ever notice how the Cuban Sandwichis piled high with ham and pork? Well, it originated as leftovers from pork barbeques where the “lomo” is the prime cut. The difference between Cuban pork loin and anywhere else is that the Cubans add fresh orange juice and lime juiceto the brine as they cook the pig, adding that mojo-style flavor.